FLOODS IN NELSON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, 14 March 1907, Page 2

FLOODS IN NELSON.

WASH-OUT ON THE RAILWAY LINE. Squally weather was experienced throughout yesterday, and in the early evening culminated in a north-east gale with heavy rain. The streets in the city were flooded and water-courses became raging torrents about 8 o'clock. The wind blew with tremendous force, and trees were razed to the ground in one or two instances at least. The Maitai was in high Hood, indicating ih-it there had been heavy rain on the i::i;i<e. ( ;. I'm the Waimeas also the storm was severely fjlt. The rivers rose rapidly in the afternoon, and by the evening were, bank high in places. The Wairoa, at Brightwater, was over the banks, and a number of settlers properties have been rloded. Mr Lightband's orchard and Mr Biggar s potato crop were under water. Other settlers will doubtless suffer inconvenience and loss. News was received at Nelson early this morning of a wash-out on the railway line at Biggar's crossing, near Brightwater, absolutely preventing trains from passing over. A special passenger train was soon got ready hy the railway manager (Mr Edwards) who proceeded to the "break," and transhipped the down passengers into the ypecial train. Ladies and children were conveyed over the break on trollies, while others walked over the planked bridge. It is learnt that there will be no delay to traffic, as trains will be run to and from the washout in either direction, passengers being transhipped as was done this morning, and until the "break" is repaired. Later inquiries elicited that there is every prospect of all trains passing over the mishap (which is about a chain in length) in the usual way tomorrow. The railway staff is to.be complimented on the promptitude displayed in making arrangements for bringing !the down passengers into town. There was a delay of only an hour, and this notwithstanding that a train had to be sent out from Nelson to the scene of the wash-out. Later. We learn from Mr Edwards, officer-in-charge, that railway communication was restored on the line over the washout near Brightwater at 1.30 p.m. to-day, an engine, three carriages, and a van passing over safely. There is now no need of further necessity for transferring passengers from one train to another. The railway staff deserve credit for the smartness with which the work of restoring communication was done. Only one train was actually delayed by the mishap, and that only for an hour.